Dhaka mayors blame Wasa, BWDB for waterlogging problem

The two mayors of Dhaka city today blamed Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority and Bangladesh Water Development Board for the city's waterlogging problem that started on Monday due to heavy rain.

They said Dhaka Wasa and BWDB, the two entities that are mainly responsible for curbing waterlogging in the city, did not do their duty properly.

"Although it is Wasa and the water development board's duty to solve the waterlogging problem, both organisations have totally failed. Give us the duty to solve the problem through long-term planning," said DSCC mayor Fazle Noor Taposh.

At the coordination meeting held at Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives (LGRD) ministry, the mayor challenged the information given by the two organisations. He along with the LGRD minister and others visited three pumping stations at Kalunagar, Goran Chatbari and Rampura and some canals at Balurghat.

The mayor challenged the officials of Wasa and WDB when they said they were clearing water through pumps as it was not being cleared through drainage lines normally.

Taposh said they were not doing their duties properly and found negligence on part of the organisations after visiting them.

They found the canals were filled with garbage creating obstacles to pumping water.

City dwellers have been suffering for years because Wasa and BWDB have not been discharging their duties properly, the mayor added.

After visiting the spots, LGRD minister Tajul Islam said they did not find the activities of Wasa and WDB satisfactory.

On the issue of handing over canals to two city corporations, LGRD minister said they will take steps after following the necessary processes considering the capacity of the two city corporations.

Urging the government to place the canals under DNCC mayor Atiqul Islam's jurisdiction, the authorities said they can assure people that they will recover the canals if they get custody.

The city corporation authorities will connect the canals with storm water drainage system so that water can eventually find its way to the rivers, Atiqul said.

He added that a master plan is necessary for proper drainage system. "We have identified 26 areas which are vulnerable to waterlogging and I am giving an assurance to solve the problem in 10 areas this rainy season," he added.